Papia, husband jailed for 20 yrs in arms case

A Dhaka court on Monday sentenced expelled Jubo Mohila League leader Shamima Nur Papia and her husband Mofizur Rahman Sumon to 27 years in jail under two sections in an arms case.

They were sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for possessing illegal arms and another seven years’ for possessing bullets illegally.

Judge KM Imrul Kayesh of the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court delivered the verdict in presence of the couple.

Earlier on September 27, the judge fixed Monday to deliver the judgment in the case on completion of argument from both prosecution and defence.

Jubo Mohila League’s Narsingdi district unit expelled general secretary Papia and her husband, a former Chhatra League leader, along with two of their associates were arrested from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on February 22 this year when they were trying to leave the country.

RAB raided Papia’s residence located at Indira Road in city’s Farmgate area the following day and recovered a foreign-made pistol, two magazines, 20 bullets, five bottles of foreign liquor, Tk 58,41,000 in cash, as well as credit and debit cards of various banks.

An arms case was lodged against the couple with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station in Dhaka on February 24.